Torito

It was difficult not to be impressed with the performance that Torito put up in winning the 10-furlong three-year-olds’ handicap at Epsom on Saturday. He was a little keen through the very early stages of the race, but he settled nicely then in sixth place behind the pace-setting Forca Timao. He travelled well down around Tattenham Corner, he was the only horse who was still on the bridle as they straightened up for home. He made his ground nicely on the outside without Benoit De La Sayette having to get too serious with him, and he picked up well when his rider asked him to, hitting the front on the run to the furlong marker and clearing away to win by almost three lengths.

It was a really likeable performance by the Gosdens’ horse. It was just his fourth run too, and his first on ground better than good to soft, and his first handicap, and he coped well with all of that. The handicapper has raised him by 10lb to a mark of 105, but he deserves to move into stakes races now. He does hold an entry in the John Smith’s Cup though, and, with a 10lb weight-for-age allowance for three-year-olds in that, he could get into the race on a nice weight, should connections decide to go down that road.
Epsom, 3rd June 2023